MVP calls on PBA teams to unite
By Robbie Pangilinan
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Feb 2013
MANILA, PHILIPPINES via AKTV - Smart Gilas Pilipinas owner Manny V. Pangilinan called on fellow PBA team owners to ?reunite for our country? as the Philippines hosts the upcoming FIBA-Asia championship.
?Project natin lahat ito, para sa bayan at sa ating pagmamahal sa sport na basketball (This is everybody?s project, for the country and for the love of the port basketball),? said MVP, following reports that Alaska?s big man Sonny Thoss will only join the national team after the Commissioner?s Cup.
?We hope Sonny can play for the team, he will be representing the country and be the pride of the Philippines,? MVP added.
The management of Alaska already informed PBA commissioner Chito Salud that the team is willing to loan one player, but only after the Commissioner?s Cup or if they get eliminated early.
On the other hand, Thoss believes that there is no conflict in training with the Philippine team and with his duties in Alaska, as the Gilas players have not resumed training yet. He is willing to observe but cannot play at the moment.
National team coach Chot Reyes also wants Thoss to complete the ?RP Giants? that consists of Talk N? Text players Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel De Ocampo, Ryan Reyes, Jason Castro, Jared Dillinger, and Kelly Williams; Globalport?s Gary David and Japeth Aguilar; Rain or Shine?s Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan; San Mig Coffee?s Marc Pingris; Ginebra?s LA Tenorio; Petron?s Jun Mar Fajardo; Filipino-naturalized Marcus Douthit and Ateneo?s Greg Slaughter.
The ?tallest team? in local basketball history is expected to play well at the FIBA Asia Championship for a sought-after slot in the 2016 Olympics at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 17-man roster averages a height of 6?4? ? with 7-footer Slaughter, 6?10? Fajardo, and 6?9? Aguilar.
Though looked up to as a ?threat? in Asian basketball and the most dominant team in Southeast Asia due to the RP players? three-point shooting and sneaky fast breaks, players from Jordan, Iran, and China are taller.
RP Team assistant coach Jong Uichico also called on Mark Caguiao to play for the national team, saying that The Spark will be a big contribution to Gilas.
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